Doorways

The houses in the area I live, “les Batignolles” Paris 17th arrondissement, were to large extent built during the latter part of the 19th century. Few houses are older or younger.

I have in earlier posts talked about some famous painters, poets, composers who used to live here, but most of the original inhabitants belonged probably to those days’ ordinary middle-class.

Built more or less during the same period, the buildings are often very similar in style, but there are some minor decoration differences, including the doors and the doorways. I have already made a post on “doors” and here is one on “doorways”, or rather what you can find just on top of the actual doorways; a bit more of fantasy than today.

I found the “hands” that you can see on the top picture slightly outside my area (but still close) and this is what gave me the idea to more closely look for other decorations.

This is not a collection of the nicest ones in Paris; it’s just pictured as I walked along the streets close to where I live (and my house is included.) I would certainly find something much more decorative if I went to the most fashionable areas.

That flats were equipped with gas and electricity was something new and sometimes you can see small plates indicating that those commodities are available, like some of the older cafés advise that they have the telephone.